Okay, so it's spring. That means it's season finale time and what does that
mean for television
fans? This is the time of the year when their favorite
shows complete their seasons and new shows that otherwise might never be seen
get some play time. This is the time of the year when television networks
are
hoping they might snag a viewer or two who hasn't got a plan to go out every
night during the nice weather. ABC Network's latest submission for the
Thursday, 9pm EST time slot (formerly owned by Grey's Anatomy): Motive.

The fact of the matter is,
we (the viewers) know it wasn't the wife. That's because Motive is more
about the why than the who. Originally a Canadian television series
that found
its way to the US, Motive first tells the viewers the identities of the
victim and the murderer. That way, we can focus on the actual motive
for the
murder. In this case, the actual murderer is a high school
student named Tom
(Tyler Johnston), the least likely of suspects. Tom is one of those "invisible"
kids in high school. Playing bass drum
in the high school marching band, he's
the kind of kid that tries to lay low despite the fact that other kids find him
an easy target for bullying.

But Tom was not in any of
Mr. Martin's classes. Tom doesn't really know Linda Martin. There really isn't
any readily apparent motive for the murder. So why did Tom kill Glen Martin?
That is what we have to figure out as Detectives Flynn and Vega, rookie
Detective Brian Lucas (Brandon Penny), Staff Sergeant Boyd Bloom (Roger Cross)
and Medical Examiner
Betty Rogers (Lauren Holly) uncover clues that will help
them solve the murder.

Now, Motive is not
one of those action-packed wowsers of a crime drama. In fact, this show could
probably slip right under every cop show fan's radar, but I decided to check it
out on the off chance that it might be worth my while. I have to say...it
didn't suck. I thought it might, but found out differently. I actually enjoyed
the characters and the situations they found themselves in. I liked the plot
twist. But there's something missing in this show...I can't quite put my finger
on it. The show itself isn't bad and the acting is good, yet I don't see myself
watching this show on a regular basis.

It's a hit in Canada,
garnering a second season there. Perhaps Motive will find another niche
here in the states. For me, Motive will be one of those shows that I
might watch if I had nothing else to do and felt like just staring at the
television for some moderately good entertainment. Not a great show, but one
featuring an interesting concept.